Theatrical scenery.



No. 63I,450. Patented Aug. 22, |899. R. -WHYTALl l THETRICAL SCENERY.

(Application filed Oct. 18, 189B.)

(,No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l, ZJ@ i.

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N0. 63|,45,0. Patnted.Aug. 22, |899.

R. WHYTAL.

THEATRICAL SCENERY.

(Application led Oct. 18, 189B.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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STATESv RUSS WHYTAL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TH EATRICAL SCENERY.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 631,450, dated August 22, 1899.

Application filed October 18, 1898. ASerial No. 693,860. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern: aided by depositing upon the stage certain Be it known that I, RUSS WHYTAL, acilizen powders or dust-like material of suitable of the United States, and a resident of New color, so that the falling frames will blow or York, (Bay Sid-e,) in the county of Queens puff this powder about, thus simulating the 5 and State of New York, have invented cercloud of'dust naturally attending the fall of tain new and useful Improvements in Stage- Aa castle-wall. Scenery for Theaters, of which the following By the employment of my invention a great is a specification. Variety of astonishing stage effects may be 6o My invention relates to improvements in produced-as, for instance, a forest blown Io stage-scenery for theaters; and it consists, down by a hurricane, earthquake effects, the

generally stated,in frames ofsuch size, shape, falling masts of a ship, bc. and material as desired which are provided Referring to the drawings hereof, Figure l with hinges or suitable pivoting devices at illustrates an elevation in perspective of the their lower edges, the frames being covered stage-scenery as seen in the first instance I 5 with canvas or other suitable material and above alluded to, the frames being in their having-flippers or other usual devices, if deupright position. Fig. 2 illustrates an elevasired. Both sides of the covering of the tion inperspective of that which is shownin frames are painted or otherwise made to rep- Fig. l, the scenery having fallen forwardly 7o resent scenery, the two sides differing, howupon the stage.' Fig. Sillustrates a plan view zo ever, in theircharacter. In use these frames of that which is shown in Fig. l. Fig. liilusare ordinarily first presented to the audience tratesa detail of the frames, showing the rear in their upright or substantially vertical poside thereof. sition, being maintained in such position by Aillustrates the drop-curtain; B, the stagesuitable appliances. The scenery thus first floor proper.

25 presented to the audience may, for example, C is the rear or background curtain. illustrate the walls of aruined castle7 and dur- D D may be considered the fiats. ing the course of the play an explosion is sup- E E are the pivoted frames, which form the posed to take place, which results in throwsuhject-matterbf this invention. As shown 8o ing down the walls or some portion of them, best in Fig. 3, their front surfaces are smooth,

3o which may in the story of the play result in or substantially so, although they may have burying the villain or accomplish some other flippers or permanent projections upon them, necessary result, depending upon the plot. `if desired, and they are painted o`r otherwise At the point where such explosion takes place treated to represent in the case shown porattendants upon the stage release the frames, tions of the walls of a .ruined castle. The

3 5 which, being pivoted or hingedV to the stage, rear side may likewise loe plain, if preferred,

fall forwardly upon it and in so doing present or may have flippers, as shown at F F. (See to the audience their rear sides, upon which Figs. 3 and 4.) The rear sides of the frames other scenic effects are produced representare painted or otherwise made to simulate the 9o ing in the imaginary case referred to the broken masonry resulting from the fallen 4o broken rock or masonry of the Walls as they walls. (See Fig. 2.) These frames may be fall in ruins. By this means a peculiarly hinged or otherwise movably attached to the startling effect is produced. The several stage in any preferred manner. Adesirable frames composing the scenery maybe so conway in which to effect the stated construcstructed that the wall will appear to breakup tion is to employ battens G G, (see Fig. 4,)

45 as it falls, and yet there is no noise occawhich may be of such size as preferred and sioned, because as the frames approach the which may be nailed or otherwise fastened to stage the air beneath them prevents any slamthe floor of the stage and are provided withming and they settle into place quickly and hinges H H, preferably spring-hinges, as Ioo noiselessly, presenting their reverse sidesshown, so that they will aid in throwing the 5o in other words, a scene representing the frames forwardly to insure the proper eect broken masonry in an astonishingly startling as soon as the attendants let go or release the and effective manner. The illusion may be cords or ropes I, by means of which theframes are maintained in an upright position. These cords may each be held in the hands ol' an attendant; but in order that the simultaneous action of the screens may be under more complete control I ordinarily prefer to have the cords engage with screw-eyes J, screwed into the floor of the stage, so that the cords may be conducted to such point that a single operator on each side of the stage may manipulate them. It will be understood, of course, that any guiding means may be used instead of the sc1e'-;veyes and that the cords may go up to the upper part of the stage or lead to any other desired point, and it will likewise be apparent that devices, such as a latch of suitable construction or equivalent means, may be employed instead of the cords.

It will he understood that the frames may be made in sections, as scenery is now frequently made, so that it may he folded for transportation, and that the battens or other means may be likewise made in sections. The cords, if they are used to maintain the frames in upright position, are preferably colored, so that when the frames fall and the cords lie across their rear sides they will not he distinguishable by the audience.

I do not limit myself to frames arranged laterally of the stage, because the back- `ground-curtain may itself be made in the form of one of my frames and fall forwardly, and sometimes instead of having the frames fall forwardly upon the stage I have them fall outwardly therefrom, either to the rear or to the right or left, having flippers, projections, or recesses arranged upon or in them in such manner that when their position is changed, as stated, a different side of such flippers, projections, or recesses is presented to the audience, having produced thereon different scenic eii'eets. It is not necessary that the spring-hinges should be employed, because the action of gravity will frequently be suflicient to cause the desired movement of the frames. I prefer them, however, or some equivalent mechanical device because thereby the movement of the frames upon being released is assured, and also the restrained tension of the springs holds the frames more rigidly in their upright position, thus counteraeting air-drafts and other disturbing means which might tend to Wave or rock the scenery.

Having described my invention, I claiml. In stage-scenery, a covered frame, both sides of which bear scenic representations, devices whereby the frame is pivotally connected to the floor, and means to temporarily maintain the frame in an upright position, for the purposes set forth.

2. In stage-scenery, a covered frame, both sides of which bearscenic representations, spring-hinges connecting the lower edge of the frame with the floor, and a cord or like device for temporarily maintaining the frame in an upright position, for the purposes set forth.

In stage-scenery, a covered frame, both sides of which bear scenic representations, flippers, projections or recesses upon said frame, devices whereby the frame is pivotally connected with the floor, a cord to telnporarily maintain the frame in an upright position7 and guiding devices whereby the cords of several frames are guided to a desired spot, for the purposes set forth.

4. In stage-scenery, a covered frame, both sides of which bear scenic representations, spring-hinges connecting the frame with a hatten adapted to be att-ached to the iioor, said hatten itself, and a cord whereby the frame may be temporarily maintained in an upright position, for the purposes set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 13th day of October, A. D. 1808.

RUSS XVI-IYTAL.

Vitn esses:

PHILLIPS ABBOTT, EDGAR R. MEAD. 

